Ehhh...I think that transplant thing might actually serve as an advantage, having seen firsthand the effect a successful team can have in winning over and uniting transplant fans (in addition to whatever natives are still there). I'm speaking, of course, about the scene up here in Nashville, another transplant-heavy city (and becoming more and more transplant-heavy by the minute), during the Predators' last few seasons, in particular last season during their Cup run. That against the backdrop of the Titans' Snatit's dysfunctions up until recently made this place solidly a Predators town--and is the ENTIRE reason Nashville SC co-opted the Predators' color scheme in the first place.

Anyway, that's just a long way of saying don't discount the power of transplants when fielding a new--and successful--team in a fast-growing sport.

Congrats to ATLUTD...at least one ATL squad doesn't have to wear the "Chokelanta" badge.

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@Buc, I think that’s exactly what we’re saying — it behooves MLS to go after transplants and the cities that are more transplant-heavy, like Atlanta, as a new sport that lacks both the advantages and disadvantages of more entrenched historic Big Four teams.

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Heard a lot of stories about people in Atlanta that drive by with a Steelers, Red Sox, Warriors sticker on their car, and also Atlanta United stickers on their cars. It's the one local team that everyone can cheer for because most people didn't grow up with an MLS team.

In other news, FC Cincinnati appears to be taking about 10 of their USL players to MLS. That feels like a lot and feels on the surface to a guy who isn't that clued into how these things work like it could set the club up for a tough first season. How did the other teams who got promoted handle this?

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Heard a lot of stories about people in Atlanta that drive by with a Steelers, Red Sox, Warriors sticker on their car, and also Atlanta United stickers on their cars. It's the one local team that everyone can cheer for because most people didn't grow up with an MLS team.

In other news, FC Cincinnati appears to be taking about 10 of their USL players to MLS. That feels like a lot and feels on the surface to a guy who isn't that clued into how these things work like it could set the club up for a tough first season. How did the other teams who got promoted handle this?

Well, everyone in Atlanta is behind them, but only for now. Give them a few years to stop being title contenders and suddenly all those people don't really care about MLS anymore.

Orlando City brought up quite a few USL players into MLS, and none really worked out. The best one was Carlos Rivas, and even a year after he left we refer to shots that are sent way above and away from the goal (basically, sent into the corner of the second deck) as "he just hit it into Rivas-land". So, all in all we would've been better leaving them by the wayside (even though Luke Boden, one of the players we brought up, is still my favorite City player all-time).

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Weird they’re bringing up so many USL players, but I would’ve quit soccer completely if they would’ve brought up Evan Newton.

I know Jimmy McLaughlin had MLS experience with Philadelphia and Justin Hoyte has Premier League experience. Newton had a great start to the season but when Richey took over after being injured they both played lights out. I think Spencer was maybe a smidge better. What I think may be interesting is if we pick up Mitch Hildebrant from Atlanta in the expansion draft. That would be fun to watch him come back.